Emotional eating, self-compassion, and body image among adult men in Türkiye

This study aims to examine the relationship between emotional eating, self-compassion, and body image in men. An empirical study was conducted with a sample of 215 Turkish men aged 18-65 years. Participants completed three standardized self-report instruments: the Body Image Scale (BIS), Emotional Eating Scale (EES), and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). Data were analyzed to examine the predictive roles of body image and self-compassion in emotional eating behaviors. Pearson’s correlation coefficients indicated that emotional eating was negatively associated with self-compassion (r = -.24, p < .01) and positively associated with self-judgement (r = .50, p < .01). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the model significantly predicted emotional eating, F(7, 207) = 11.31, p < .01, R² = .28, with self-judgement emerging as the sole significant predictor (β = .32, p < .01). Body image and demographic variables did not show significant effects (p > .05). Findings suggest that self-evaluative processes, particularly self-criticism, play a more primary role than physical body image in understanding male emotional eating. The results highlight the influence of cultural norms, media representations, and collective ideals in shaping male body image and emotion regulation strategies. Traditional masculinity norms in the Turkish context may intensify body image and hinder self-compassion. These findings underscore the importance of integrative, gender-sensitive interventions that address both individual cognitive-affective patterns and broader sociocultural dynamics in reducing emotional eating among men.